TRIPOLI— Intense bombardment shook Tripoli as new battles erupted
around the capital hours after Libya reported its first case of coronavirus and
despite United Nations calls for ceasefires around the world during the
epidemic.

Residents
of the Libyan capital, the seat of the internationally recognised Government of
National Accord (GNA), said the shelling was the worst in weeks, shaking
windows in the city centre kilometres from the front line in the southern
suburbs.

“We
are done in this country. There is a war and we hear clashes all day, fearing a
missile will fall near us. Now there is coronavirus. If it spreads in Libya, I
think we can only pray,” said Issa, 30, a shop owner in Tripoli.

The
Libyan National Army (LNA) of renegade eastern commander Khalifa Haftar has
been trying to capture Tripoli for almost a year, backed by the United Arab
Emirates, Egypt and Russia. The GNA is supported by Turkey and allied Syrian
fighters.

An
LNA shelling attack last week drew UN condemnation after it killed four girls
and young women. On Tuesday, shells hit a prison in an area held by the GNA,
also drawing UN anger.

Pro-GNA
forces launched attacks on several fronts on Wednesday against the LNA,
including at al-Watiya airbase, 125km west of Tripoli, the closest such
facility to the capital in LNA hands.

“In
response to the heaviest bombardments Tripoli has seen, we launched a series of
counterattacks against Haftar,” said Mohamed Geblawi, spokesman for the Libyan
foreign affairs ministry, in a statement.

Geblawi
cited what he called “indiscriminate shelling” by the LNA after both sides
agreed to a ceasefire to tackle the coronavirus.

A
pro-GNA military operations group said its forces had captured LNA fighters,
including some foreigners.

LNA
spokesman Ahmed Mismari said it repulsed the attack and the GNA fielded Turkish
and Syrian fighters. “The truce was not put into effect” by the pro-GNA forces,
he added.

The
escalation in the fighting could spell disaster for Libya’s already fragmented
and badly stretched health system in handling the coronavirus, after
authorities confirmed the first case of the disease late on Tuesday.

“Libyans
have suffered for years under this brutal conflict, and now they face yet
another threat to their health and wellbeing,” said Elizabeth Hoff, the World
Health Organization representative in Libya.

UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a complete ceasefire in
conflicts around the world as governments and local authorities struggle with a
pandemic that has spread to most countries.